RARE ANCIENT GREEK
IRON CAVALRY LANCE FROM THE CENTRAL ASIAN CONQUESTS OF ALEXANDER THE
GREAT

Central Asia

327
B.C.

For the first time
in our history, we are pleased to offer a very rare ancient
Greek weapon from a Central Asian site that was once defeated and ruled
by Alexander the Great. Authentic Ancient Greek weapons are
extremely scarce on the commercial market and are far outnumbered by
later Roman examples. This unusually well-preserved specimen was
likely wrapped and interred in a burial in leather whereby the tannins
of the leather were responsible for the superb iron preservation.
We have seen ancient weapons with this same kind of condition before.
Such an environmental factor was first witnessed by the excavation of a
Roman tannery site years ago whereby iron tools were found virtually
un-corroded due to the ancient chemicals they lay in from the tannery.
The blade design of this spectacular lance is typical for Greek culture
weapons. The narrow head yet large shaft base is classic for
cavalry weapons. Ancient hammering and forming of a shallow
mid-rib on one side is still beautifully preserved and visible as seen
above.

This is the ONLY ancient
Greek weapon we have to offer and likely will be one of a very few (or
none) we will ever offer in the future. Its provenance is certain
and therefore places not only a culture to this piece, but the
context as to why it was there hence our attribution of this
weapon to the Central Asian military campaign of Alexander the Great.
The specific site will be provided to the buyer only (to protect
the site from looting) of this piece which exactly and accurately
assigns the correct provenance of this piece to Alexander the Great.
Unlike other sellers that make up romantic and fascinating names and
battles randomly to artifacts that are IMPOSSIBLE to prove or know
provenance just to make more sales, we are in definite knowledge of the
provenance of this rare and important specimen of ancient historical
significance.

This lance head is
complete and in a condition beyond what one would expect. This is
a RARE opportunity to acquire such a piece of profound ancient history
and military accomplishment. NO REPAIR AND NO RESTORATION OR FABRICATION.
A fine and impressive cavalry weapon from this famous empire and
culture.

WARNING:
There is a number of fake and misidentified ancient weapons on the market. As fine quality intact, original
specimens become more scarce and techniques have become more
sophisticated to fake these weapons. We inspect, clean and
conserve in our lab every specimen we offer for sale. Our
extensive experience with handling thousands of pieces from museum and
private collections has afforded us rare and invaluable experience with
authentic specimens as well as convincing forgeries. The degree to which the
fakers have been able to replicate patina to disguise their work
requires an expert examination by highly experienced individuals.
It is common to find very reasonably priced weapons that are made up of
part original and part modern components or wholly modern pieces
displaying elaborate artificial patinas. All purchases should
include from the dealer a written guarantee of authenticity with
unconditional and lifetime return policies regarding such guarantee.

Alexander the Great is considered one of the most important individuals
of ancient history. His conquests created an empire, short-lived
as it had been, that was one of the largest in all of antiquity.
His cultural influences were felt all the way through the 15th century
A.D. up to the fall of the Byzantine Roman Empire. He is
considered to have been undefeated in battle with victories that spanned
from the Balkans all the way to the Indian sub-continent. Even
today, military academies study and teach his strategies and tactics in
combat.

Alexander was born 356 B.C. in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia.
He was the son of Philip II, king of Macedonia, and of Olympias, a
princess of Epirus. His tutor was Aristotle, who trained him in
rhetoric and literature and stimulated his interest in science, medicine
and philosophy.In the summer of 336 B.C., his father was
assassinated and Alexander ascended to the Macedonian throne. At this
time, Alexander (and his kingdom) was extremely vulnerable with
considerable unrest at home and abroad. This was all put to rest by a
string of events that immediately elevated Alexander III to being known
as Alexander the Great. In
335 B.C., as general of the Greeks, Alexander carried out a successful
campaign against the Thracians defeating them swiftly. On his return he
crushed in a single week, the threatening Illyrians and then hastened to
Thebes, which had revolted. He took the city by storm and razed it,
sparing only the temples of the gods and the houses of the Greek lyric
poet Pindar, and selling the surviving 8000 inhabitants, into slavery.
Alexander's promptness in crushing the revolt of Thebes brought the
other Greek states into instant and unconditional submission.

It is
said that while visiting Athens to seal a pact, Alexander visited the
Oracle at Delphi despite it being a day when prophecy was forbidden. In
his attempts to drag the priestess to the place where she gave her
Oracles, she screamed, "My son, you are invincible!" This event would
never be forgotten and had profound influence on Alexander's boldness
and self image for the rest of his short life.

Alexander was a great military mind having been the son of a great
warrior and tactician. By the time Alexander had come to rule, he had
already taken part in numerous battles with his father. Alexander's
father, Philip II, developed the PHALANX, the most notable and effective
weapon of ancient Greece. The phalanx was a box formation for infantry
soldiers from 8 to 36 men deep. The men in the front carried spears of
about four to six meters (12 to 18 feet), that were usually held in an
upright position so tight that it created a wall. This wall of spears
helped hide what was going on with the units behind the formation. When
held horizontally, enemies could be killed at a safe range from the
formation. The phalanx was revolutionary for its time and was a very
potent weapon. It was only surpassed when the Romans developed the
legion, another infantry formation with different weapons and armor.Alexander was able to put together
a very impressive army and his military accomplishments are legendary.
He was an expert at organizing his units for complex battle maneuvers,
hiding the true numbers that make up of his forces, and managing his
army during the ever-changing flow of battle.

Near
the point of his death he began to believe he was a god and promoted
himself as such to his kingdom. He claimed he descended from Herakles
(Hercules) and began minting coins that depicted himself as Herakles.
His mother even told him that a serpent had impregnated her rather then
his father (whom she passionately despised shortly after his birth)
adding to his thoughts that he was a god. Before his death, Alexander
the Great had some of his cities worship him as a god. With his
accomplishments and influence on the classic ancient world that lasted
long after his untimely death at the age of just 33, no mortal truly
came closer to being a "god" than Alexander the Great!

EXCEPTIONAL MUSEUM GRADE GREEK IRON CAVALRY LANCE - FROM CENTRAL ASIAN
SITE OF FORMER ALEXANDER THE GREAT